Why it's a strong pick

Midnight Lizard gives you more control than a simple dark-mode switch. Its README describes "custom color schemes for all websites". It is open source under the MIT licence, and its Chrome Web Store listing says the developer has disclosed it will not collect or use your data. The trade-off: more controls mean more setup time.

What it does

Midnight Lizard changes the colours of the sites you visit. Its README lists dark, light and grayscale modes, brightness, saturation and contrast adjustments, a blue-light filter, accessibility enhancements and scheduling options. You can start from a built-in scheme and tune it, rather than build one from nothing.

Key features

Custom colour schemes. Dark, light and grayscale modes for all websites.
Brightness, saturation and contrast. The README lists these three adjustments.
Blue-light filter. A filter to reduce blue light.
Scheduling options. Listed in the README.
Accessibility enhancements. Listed in the README.
Open source. MIT licence. The code is on GitHub under the Midnight-Lizard organisation.

Who it's for

Midnight Lizard suits people who want to shape how a site looks, not only flip it dark. In our view it is a good fit if simple on/off tools feel too limiting. If you want a quicker start, Dark Reader generates a dark theme for you. If you want only a few sites in dark, see Night Eye.

Does Midnight Lizard collect data?

Midnight Lizard's Chrome Web Store listing says the developer has disclosed it will not collect or use your data. That is the developer's own statement, so read the listing and its privacy information before you install. The code is public on GitHub under the MIT licence, which lets you read how it works.

What permissions does Midnight Lizard ask for?

We could not read its manifest when we checked, so we cannot list its permissions. As a tool that changes the look of any website, expect it to ask for access to the sites you visit. Check the install prompt on the listing for the current list before you install.

Does Midnight Lizard work with Manifest V3?

Its README says the extension "has been updated to Manifest V3 to comply with Google Chrome's latest requirements". That is the project's own statement. We could not confirm the details of the store build, so check the listing. Our Manifest V3 guide explains the format change, mostly from an ad-blocker point of view.

FAQ

Is Midnight Lizard open source? Yes. The licence is MIT and the code is on GitHub.

Do I need to build it from source? No. The README's build steps (npm install, npm run prod-build, load unpacked) are for developers. Most people install from the store.

Is it free? We could not verify its price, so check the listing.

Good to know

Many controls mean setup time. Start from a built-in scheme and change one setting at a time. Custom colours apply to every page, so check text contrast on pages you use for work.

Other dark mode & reader tools to compare

Midnight Lizard is one of 10 picks in our Dark Mode & Reader Tools guide, which compares them side by side and explains how to choose. The other picks:

Dark Reader: An open-source dark mode for websites. Free extension, with brightness, contrast and sepia controls.
Night Eye: A dark mode extension that adjusts each page's elements instead of flipping every color. Free Lite plan with limits, paid plans above it.
Reader View: A reader extension built on Mozilla Readability. Opens an article in a clean page, with fullscreen reading and text-to-speech.
Reader Mode: A distraction-free reader with accessibility tools, highlighting and text-to-speech. Free plan with limits, paid Premium.
Chrome Reader Mode: A reader mode that can also save articles offline, highlight and take notes. The listing is now titled Quiet Reader.
Turn Off the Lights: Dims the page around a video player and adds a Night Mode for dark pages. Open source (GPLv2), free, supported by donations.
Just Read: A reader mode for article pages, made by one developer. Free core, paid subscription for extras.
Clearly Reader: A reader mode with an AI assistant. A free plan, plus paid Pro and Subscription plans.
Stylus: Restyle websites with CSS themes, such as dark themes, that you install or write yourself. Not a one-click dark mode. Open source.

See alternatives: Dark Reader alternatives lists Midnight Lizard as an option.

For Dark Reader's safety review, see its safety check.